Search

Background: Infectious endocarditis is associated with substantial in-hospital mortality of 15%-20%. Effective management requires coordination between multiple medical and surgical subspecialties, which can often lead to disjointed care. Previous European studies have identified multidisciplinary endocarditis teams as a tool for reducing endocarditis mortality., Methods: The multidisciplinary endocarditis team was formed in May 2018. The group developed an evidence-based algorithm for management of endocarditis that was used to provide recommendations for hospitalized patients over a 1-year period. Mortality outcomes were then retroactively assessed and compared to a historical control utilizing propensity matching., Results: Between June 2018 and June 2019 the team provided guideline-based recommendations on 56 patients with Duke Criteria-definite endocarditis and at least 1 American Heart Association indication for surgery. The historical control included 68 patients with definite endocarditis and surgical indications admitted between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015. In-hospital mortality decreased significantly from 29.4% in 2014-2015 to 7.1% in 2018-2019 (P < .0001). There was a non-significant increase in the rate of surgical intervention after implementation of the team (41.2% vs 55.4%; P = 0.12). Propensity score matching demonstrated similar results., Conclusions: Implementation of a multidisciplinary endocarditis team was associated with a significant 1-year decrease in all-cause in-hospital mortality for patients with definite endocarditis and surgical indications, in the presence of notable differences between the 2 studied cohorts. In conjunction with previous studies demonstrating their effectiveness, these data support the idea that widespread adoption of endocarditis teams in North America could improve outcomes for this patient population., (Copyright © 2022 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) who are undergoing hemodialysis are at increased risk for infective endocarditis (IE). However, outcomes of surgical treatment for IE in these patients have not been well studied., Methods: Between 1997 and 2017, 539 patients underwent surgical treatment for IE. Of these patients, 125 were undergoing hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and 414 had no history of CRF. Primary end points compared in this study were short-term survival and long-term survival., Results: Preoperatively, dialysis-treated patients had higher incidences of diabetes (43% vs 18%), hypertension (79% vs 49%), congestive heart failure (63% vs 48%), cardiogenic shock (13% vs 5.3), and sepsis (29% vs 18%) (all P < .05). Postoperatively, they experienced higher rates of prolonged mechanical ventilation (54% vs 22%), pneumonia (17% vs 5.6%), sepsis (6.4% vs 1.0%), cardiac arrest (7.2% vs 1.7%), gastrointestinal events (14% vs 5.1%), and operative mortality (14% vs 5.8%) (all P < .05). The 5- and 10-year survival rates were significantly worse in the dialysis-treated group at 29% and 16%, respectively, compared with 72% and 53% in the patients who did not have CRF (P < .001). ESRD was a risk factor for both short-term mortality (odds ratio, 2.0) and long-term mortality (hazard ratio, 2.7). Rates of reoperation in dialysis-treated patients were very low: 5- and 10-year incidences were 0% and 2.0%, respectively., Conclusions: In patients with ESRD and IE, poor postoperative outcomes emphasized the importance of prevention and raised the question whether indications for surgical treatment in the general population are appropriate for patients who are dialysis dependent. Additionally, low rates of reoperation supported the use of bioprosthetic valves in these patients., (Copyright © 2021 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Left-sided staphylococcal, streptococcal, and enterococcal infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Our primary aim is to compare clinical outcomes of staphylococcal, streptococcal, and enterococcal IE patients who undergo valve replacement surgery and outcomes of patients who are treated solely with antibiotics., Methods: All patients were treated medically or surgically for left-sided staphylococcal, streptococcal, or enterococcal IE at our institution from 1998 to 2014 and were retrospectively studied. The primary outcome of interest was 30-day and 1-year mortality, and secondary outcomes included posttreatment septic shock, embolic events, stroke, and end-stage renal disease at 30 days. Inverse probability treatment weights, derived from propensity scores, were used to balance the medical and surgical cohorts across clinical risk factors, The Society of Thoracic Surgeon scores, and pathogens. Outcomes were compared comprehensively and in a staphylococcal-only subanalysis., Results: Study population consisted of 245 surgical patients and 164 medical patients. Mortality at 30 days was higher in the medical cohort, both in aggregate and for staphylococcal only (all, 7% vs 16%, P < .001; staphylococcal only, 7% vs 22%, P < .001). Surgical patients had a higher incidence of septic shock and renal dysfunction; however, stroke and embolic events at 30 days were not different between cohorts. Cox survival analysis demonstrated that surgical treatment provided a 1-year survival benefit, with a hazard ratio of 0.48 (95% confidence interval, 0.36 to 0.64) that was robust regardless of pathogen., Conclusions: Compared with medical management, valve replacement surgery in patients with left-sided staphylococcal, streptococcal, or enterococcal IE appears to confer a survival advantage at 30 days and 1 year., (Copyright © 2020 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cardiac surgery in patients with infective endocarditis is associated with high mortality owing to postoperative septic multiorgan failure. Hemoadsorption therapy may improve surgical outcomes by reducing the circulating cytokines. We aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of intraoperative hemoadsorption in patients with mitral valve endocarditis., Methods: Eligible candidates were patients with infective endocarditis of the native mitral valve undergoing cardiac surgery between January 2014 and July 2018. Patients with intraoperative hemoadsorption (hemoadsorption) were compared with surgery without hemoadsorption (control). The end points were the incidence of postoperative sepsis, sepsis-associated death, and 30-day mortality. Furthermore, postoperative need for epinephrine and norepinephrine and systemic vascular resistance were evaluated., Results: A total of 58 consecutive patients were included: 30 in the hemoadsorption group and 28 in the control group. Postoperative sepsis occurred in 5 patients in the hemoadsorption group and in 11 in the control group (P = .05). No sepsis-associated death occurred in the hemoadsorption group, whereas five septic patients in the control group died (P = .02). Thirty-day mortality was 10% in the hemoadsorption group versus 18% in the control group (P = .39). On intensive care unit admission, the cumulative need for epinephrine and norepinephrine was 0.15 versus 0.24 μg/kg body weight/min (P = .01) and the median systemic vascular resistance was 1413 versus 1010 dyn·s·cm -5 (P = .02) in the hemoadsorption versus control group, respectively., Conclusions: Intraoperative hemoadsorption might reduce the incidence of postoperative sepsis and sepsis-related death. In addition, patients with intraoperative hemoadsorption showed greater hemodynamic stability. These data suggest that intraoperative hemoadsorption may improve surgical outcome in patients with mitral valve endocarditis., (Copyright © 2020 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: This meta-analysis compares the early and late outcomes of valve repair versus replacement, the primary surgical strategies for tricuspid valve infective endocarditis (IE)., Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE databases until 2016 for studies comparing tricuspid valve repair and replacement., Results: The main outcomes were mortality, recurrent IE, and need for reoperation. There were 12 unmatched retrospective observational studies with 1,165 patients (median follow-up 3.8 years, interquartile range: 2.1 to 5.0). The most common indications for surgery were septic pulmonary embolism, left-sided IE, right-side heart failure, and persistent bacteremia. Median repair proportion was 59% and replacement was 41% among studies. The primary repair strategies are vegetectomy, De Vega procedure, annuloplasty ring, bicuspidization, and leaflet patch augmentation. Of valve replacements, 83% were bioprosthetic and 17% mechanical prostheses. There were no differences in perioperative mortality between tricuspid valve repair versus replacement (relative risk [RR] 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26 to 1.46, p = 0.3). Long-term all-cause mortality was not different (RR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.22 to 1.72, p = 0.4). Valve repair was associated with lower recurrent IE (RR 0.17, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.57, p = 0.004) and need for reoperation (RR 0.26, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.92, p = 0.04) but a trend toward greater risk of moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation (RR 4.14, 95% CI: 0.80 to 21.34, p = 0.09). Furthermore, tricuspid valve repair is associated with lower need for permanent pacemaker (RR 0.20, 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.35, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Tricuspid valve repair and replacement offer similar long-term survival. Valve repair may offer greater freedom from recurrent IE and reoperation as well as freedom from pacemaker and should be the preferred approach for patients with tricuspid valve IE., (Copyright © 2018 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Optimal surgical treatment of infective tricuspid endocarditis is debatable, especially in the setting of inherent social and pathologic concerns. This study compared tricuspid valve repair, replacement, and excision for the treatment of infective endocarditis METHODS: A single-center cardiac surgery database was queried to identify patients aged older than 18 years who underwent tricuspid valve operations for infective endocarditis between 2012 and 2016. Patients were divided into three groups by the type of tricuspid valve operation: valvectomy, repair, or replacement. Patients were evaluated to identify differences between preoperative factors and outcomes, including death, length of stay, and complications., Results: During the study period, 63 patients underwent surgical treatment of infective tricuspid valve endocarditis. Demographic and baseline characteristics were comparable across all groups, except that the valve repair group was older compared with valvectomy and replacement (46 vs 29 and 31 years, respectively; p = 0.007), with more hypertension, elevated creatinine, and a lower incidence of diffuse, bilateral pulmonary emboli. Staphylococcus species were the most common organisms. The incidence of death, bleeding requiring reoperation, major stroke, prolonged ventilator time, intensive care unit stay, and overall hospital length of stay were similar in all groups. Of patients undergoing initial valvectomy, 36% were available for follow-up at 1 year, highlighting the challenges associated with the intravenous drug abuse cohort. Patients who underwent tricuspid valvectomy in the group available for follow-up had significantly lower unplanned readmission rates at 1 year., Conclusions: Tricuspid valve endocarditis patients who undergo tricuspid valve excision, repair, and replacement have similar 30-day operative mortality, as defined by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Excision patients have significantly lower unplanned readmission rates at 1 year. Tricuspid valvectomy is an acceptable initial treatment in this high-risk group as part of a surgical strategy to identify patients who are candidates for eventual valve replacement. Further study of long-term outcomes and survival is warranted., (Copyright © 2018 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite a high burden of dialysis access-related bloodstream infections and an increasing incidence of endocarditis, few data are available addressing the risk of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) in the dialysis population. We sought to assess the risk of PVE and death after valve replacement operations in patients receiving long-term dialysis., Methods: A matched retrospective cohort study was conducted comprising patients admitted for valve replacement operations at two university hospitals. Patients without dialysis were matched 1:1 with dialysis patients by valve(s) replaced, year of operation, and presence of active endocarditis as the indication for valve replacement. Patient characteristics were compared using χ(2) and t tests. The development of PVE was defined by use of the modified Duke criteria and analyzed with Cox proportional hazards regression., Results: Two hundred seventy-eight patients were included, with 139 in either cohort. The PVE risk per year of follow-up was 0.14 in the dialysis cohort and 0.03 in the nondialysis cohort. Dialysis remained a risk factor (adjusted hazard ratio 5.61 [95% confidence interval, 2.17 to 14.5], p = 0.0004) after age and race were controlled for. The 5-year survival rate was lower after valve replacement operation in the dialysis group (25.4%) than in the nondialysis group (75.9%, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: The risk of PVE and death after valve replacement operations in dialysis patients is substantial and significantly higher than in patients without dialysis. These findings highlight the importance of a careful preoperative risk-benefit assessment and underscore the need to prevent hemodialysis-related bloodstream infections., (Copyright © 2016 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Rifampin is recommended as adjunctive treatment for staphylococcal prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). It is unclear whether this should hold for surgically treated patients. The purpose of this study was to examine whether adjunctive rifampin treatment in addition to cell wall active antimicrobial agents in patients with surgically treated staphylococcal infective endocarditis (IE) results in better outcomes., Methods: Patients operated on for staphylococcal IE from April 1, 2008, to July 1, 2014, were identified from our institution's IE registry. Rifampin treatment was defined as 3 or more days of rifampin postoperatively. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compare a composite outcome of death or reoperation for IE relapse, between patients treated and not treated with rifampin, adjusted for propensity to be treated with rifampin, methicillin resistance, all-purpose refined diagnosis related group (APR-DRG) severity score, and APR-DRG mortality risk., Results: In all, 273 patients were identified. The mean age was 56 years, 66% were male, 50% had PVE, 60% had S. aureus or S. lugdunensis infection, 89% had left side involvement, and 57% had invasive disease. Fifty-one (27%) received 3 or more days of rifampin postoperatively. Ninety-two patients died or underwent reoperation for IE relapse at a median of 205 days (interquartile range 56 to 718 days). In a multivariable model, patients treated with rifampin had a similar hazard of death or reoperation for IE relapse as those not treated (hazard ratio 0.76, 95% confidence interval 0.44 to 1.32, p value 0.34). The results were robust to varying definitions of rifampin treatment., Conclusions: Among patients with surgically treated staphylococcal IE there was insufficient evidence to claim a reoperation-free survival benefit from treatment with rifampin. Rifampin should not be used as adjunctive therapy for staphylococcal IE in patients who have undergone surgical procedures for its treatment., (Copyright © 2016 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Acute bacterial endocarditis may be extremely destructive for cardiac valves and their periannular structures. It has been suggested that complex reconstruction procedures require the use of homografts because of their versatility and potency to resist repeated infection., Methods: We studied the long-term results of 69 patients with complex endocarditis who received homografts in the aortic position., Results: The results after a mean follow-up of 8.1 ± 5.1 years (median, 8.0 years) showed that the recurrence of endocarditis even in these complex cases is low (7%), but the incidence of structural valve degeneration (SVD) is high. Freedom from SVD at 10 years is only 60.0%. When aortic homografts degenerate, they predominantly calcify., Conclusions: The use of homografts to reconstruct endocarditis-related aortic valve destruction is associated with a low recurrence of endocarditis but a high incidence of SVD in the long run., (Copyright © 2015 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The high risk of morbidity and mortality for patients on hemodialysis who are undergoing cardiac surgery is increased for those with active infective endocarditis (AIE). This retrospective observational single-center study evaluated the impact of chronic hemodialysis on the outcome of aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic AIE., Methods: Data were retrospectively collected for consecutive patients undergoing aortic valve surgery for AIE diagnosed according to modified Duke criteria between October 1994 and January 2011. Characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving preoperative chronic hemodialysis were analyzed., Results: Aortic valve AIE was present in 992 patients. Forty-five (4.5%) of the aortic valve AIE patients were receiving long-term hemodialysis preoperatively, 19 of whom (42.2%) had diabetes mellitus. Mean logistic EuroSCORE was 64.2% ± 32.2%. Twenty-four preoperative septic emboli were found in 15 patients. Results of microbiologic cultures were positive in 36 patients, with the major causative organisms identified as Staphylococcus aureus (n = 17) and Enterococcus faecalis (n = 10). Isolated aortic valve replacement was performed in 19 patients (42.2%), and 26 patients (57.8%) underwent concomitant procedures. The mean follow-up was 5.3 ± 5.2 years (range, 0.1 to 17.1 years). Postoperative complications occurred in 30 patients (66.7%). Nineteen patients (42.2%) died within 30 days of surgery, which in 8 patients was attributable to a cardiac cause., Conclusions: In patients receiving chronic hemodialysis who undergo aortic valve replacement for acute AIE, postoperative mortality is high, especially in patients undergoing aortic root replacement or culture-negative AIE., (Copyright © 2015 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The periannular expansion of infection is a serious complication of infective endocarditis associated with high morbidity and mortality. The present study evaluates the results of aortic annular reconstruction in active infective endocarditis with left ventricular-aortic discontinuity., Methods: Left ventricular-aortic discontinuity was diagnosed by echocardiography in 25 (21 men, 4 female; mean age 60.2 ± 13.2 years) of 269 patients who underwent surgery for active native or prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis between January 2001 and October 2011. Seventeen (68%) and 8 (32%) patients had native and prosthetic valve endocarditis, respectively. Aortic root abscesses were radically debrided in all patients. The aortic annulus was reconstructed using autologous pericardium in 20 patients and a Dacron patch in 2. Isolated aortic valves were replaced with a bioprosthesis in 9 (36%) patients and a mechanical prosthesis in 13 (52%). Mechanical composite grafts were implanted in 3 (12%) patients. The mean follow-up was 29.1 ± 23.6 months and complete., Results: Thirty-day mortality was 20% (n = 5). Survival at 3 years was 80% ± 8% with no significant difference between native and prosthetic valve endocarditis (log-rank, p = 0.69). Endocarditis did not recur during follow-up., Conclusions: Despite procedural progress, surgery for aortic valve endocarditis with left ventricular-aortic discontinuity remains associated with significant in-hospital mortality, but mid-term survival after the perioperative period is good. Annular reconstruction with a pericardial patch is technically safe., (Copyright © 2013 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Infective endocarditis is a rare disease in the pediatric population. We sought to define patient characteristics and outcomes of surgical therapy for endocarditis in children., Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all patients with infective endocarditis who received surgical therapy between January 1, 1990, and March 1. 2011. We were interested in their congenital heart defect, prior surgical procedures, and outcome of the operation., Results: We identified 35 cases of endocarditis in 34 patients requiring surgical intervention. Mean age was 10.7 ± 8.8 years. There was a bimodal age distribution at presentation: 11 (31%) were younger than 1 year and 15 (43%) were 10 to 21 years. Of the 34 patients, 22 (63%) had no history of prior cardiac operation. The infective organism was identified in 30 (86%), with Staphylococcus aureus (n = 8) and Streptococcus viridans (n = 6) predominating. Valve replacement was performed in 22 patients and valve repair in 10. All patients received 6 weeks of postoperative intravenous antimicrobial therapy. Operative mortality was 15% (5 of 34). The 5 deaths occurred in infants who were a mean age of 2.5 months, and 3 of the 5 infants (60%) were premature. Of 4 patients with fungal infection, 3 patients died. The Ross operation was performed successfully in 5 patients with severe aortic valve disease. Reoperations (n = 10 [28%]) included valve replacement in 5 and conduit replacement in 3, all but 1 due to somatic growth resulting in functional stenosis., Conclusions: The outcome of surgical therapy for endocarditis in children was similar to that reported for adults, with an overall mortality of 15%. The Ross operation was very effective in patients with aortic valve endocarditis. There is a significant incidence of late reoperation for valve and conduit replacement due to somatic growth. Age younger than 1 year, prematurity, and fungal organisms appear to be risk factors for death. Patients surviving to discharge had good outcomes, with no episodes of recurrent endocarditis., (Copyright © 2013 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Limited information exists about the real impact of the etiology of shock on early and late outcome after emergency surgery in acute native mitral valve endocarditis (ANMVE). This multicenter study analyzed the impact of the etiology of shock on early and late outcome in patients with ANMVE., Methods: Data were collected in eight institutions. Three hundred-seventy-nine ANMVE patients undergoing surgery on an emergency basis between May 1991 and December 2009 were eligible for the study. According to current criteria used for the differential diagnosis of shock, patients were retrospectively assigned to one of three groups: group 1, no shock (n=154), group 2, cardiogenic shock (CS [n=118]), and group 3, septic shock (SS [n=107]). Median follow-up was 69.8 months., Results: Early mortality was significantly higher in patients with SS (p<0.001). At multivariable logistic regression analysis, compared with patients with CS, patients with SS had more than 3.8 times higher risk of death. That rose to more than 4 times versus patients without shock. In addition, patients with SS had 4.2 times and 4.3 times higher risk of complications compared with patients with CS and without shock, respectively. Sepsis was also an independent predictor of prolonged artificial ventilation (p=0.04) and stroke (p=0.003) whereas CS was associated with a higher postoperative occurrence of low output syndrome and myocardial infarction (p<0.001). No difference was detected between groups in 18-year survival, freedom from endocarditis, and freedom from reoperation., Conclusions: Our study suggests that emergency surgery for ANMVE in patients with CS achieved satisfactory early and late results. In contrast, the presence of SS was linked to dismal early prognosis. Our findings need to be confirmed by further larger studies., (Copyright © 2012 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We reviewed our experience with surgical procedures for infective endocarditis (IE) in order to evaluate modern outcomes and objectively examine our institutional preferences, including the use of bioprostheses in intravenous drug users (IVDUs) regardless of age and prompt surgical intervention in patients with either septic cerebral emboli or active infection., Methods: Review of medical records was conducted from February 1999 to November 2010. The Social Security Death Index was used to determine death from any cause in the postoperative period. Hospital records were used to identify infectious complications, recurrent endocarditis, and reoperation., Results: Sixty-four patients were identified as IVDUs and 133 patients as non-IVDUs. Survival at 30 days, 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years for IVDUs and non-IVDUs was 91.2% versus 93.6%, 77.5% versus 83.0%, 46.7% versus 71.1%, and 41.1% versus 52.0%, respectively. Cox regression analysis identified intravenous drug use as an independent risk factor for diminished survival (p=0.03), although not for reoperation (p=0.95) despite 95.3% of IVDUs receiving bioprostheses versus 73.7% of non-IVDUs (p=0.0002, Fisher's exact test). Forty-three patients were identified as having preoperative septic cerebral emboli; none had a perioperative hemorrhagic event. Active infection approached significance as an independent risk factor for the composite end point of recurrent IE and perioperative infection (odds ratio 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.777 to 10.9; p=0.12, Fisher's exact test)., Conclusions: Bioprostheses are reasonable for IVDUs undergoing valve replacement for IE regardless of age. Prompt surgical intervention in the setting of septic cerebral emboli is justified; in the setting of active infection it is less clear., (Copyright © 2012 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) remains associated with high in-hospital and long-term mortality. The outcome of patients with IE who are operated on has never been put into perspective by comparing it to the age-matched and gender-matched general population. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term mortality of patients with IE who undergo operation in relation to the age-matched and gender-matched general population., Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study of 138 patients with IE who underwent consecutive operations (1998-2007) was conducted. Cumulative survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Comparison of patient survival with the general population was done using the Dutch population life table. The standardized mortality ratio was used to assess the degree of late deaths., Results: The observed in-hospital mortality risk was 10.9%. The observed long-term survival was 85% (95% confidence interval, 78% to 90%), 74% (95% confidence interval, 65% to 79%), 71% (95% confidence interval, 62% to 78%) after 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Age-matched and gender-matched survival in the general population was 99%, 93%, and 80% after a follow-up period of 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. The standardized mortality ratio was 0.99 (95% confidence interval, 0.67 to 1.31)., Conclusions: Although mortality of IE patients who have undergone operation remains considerable during the immediate postoperative period, the mortality of hospital survivors is, with increasing follow-up time, comparable with the general population., (Copyright © 2011 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Surgical treatment for endocarditis is still challenging and only a handful of studies have analyzed surgical outcomes in patients with active multivalvular endocarditis., Methods: From June 1996 to October 2007, 152 patients underwent surgery for active native valve endocarditis; 117 patients with single-valve endocarditis and 35 patients with multivalvular endocarditis. Preoperative and postoperative data were retrospectively reviewed to determine risk factors for early and late mortality., Results: One-year and 5-year survival were 78.6%±3.8% and 54.8%±5.3% in the single-valve group, and 74.3%±7.4% and 64.8%±8.3% in the multivalve group, respectively (log-rank 0.64). The rates of valve replacement were significantly higher in the single-valve group than in the multivalve group in all sites except the pulmonary valve. Freedom from reoperation was 90.0%±3.6% in the single-valve group and 79.5%±8.5% in the multivalve group in 5 years (log-rank 0.30). No recurrence of endocarditis was noted in the multivalve group, while 4 patients (3.4%) had recurrence in the single-valve group during the follow-up period (p=0.57). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications between the two groups. Multivariate analysis of the multivalve group identified postoperative renal failure as a predictor of late mortality with no predictors identified for early mortality, reoperation, and recurrence. Statistical analysis of the overall cohorts showed multivalve endocarditis was not an independent predictor of early and late mortality., Conclusions: Surgical treatment for active, native, and noncomplicated multivalve endocarditis was associated with respectable early and late morbidity and mortality comparable with single-valve endocarditis, and was not an independent predictor of early and late mortality., (Copyright © 2011 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Brucella endocarditis is a life-threatening complication of human brucellosis. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the effects of combined medical and surgical treatment in the midterm to long term., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 13 patients (mean age 44 +/- 18 years; 8 males) who were operated on from January 1993 to June 2009. Duke criteria were used for the diagnosis of endocarditis. The primary endpoint was defined as the overall mortality and readmission to the hospital during early and late follow-up periods. The other collected data included baseline and follow-up clinical findings, along with echocardiographic and laboratory measurements., Results: No patients died in the early period (up to 1 month) and 2 patients (15.3%) died during the late follow-up period. Aortic valve disease was observed in 11 of 13 patients (85%). The most commonly performed procedure was aortic valve replacement (10 of 13 patients; 77%) during a mean follow-up period of 95 +/- 60 months (range, 10 to 184; median, 74)., Conclusions: For Brucella endocarditis, perioperative antibiotic therapy combined with surgical treatment (prosthetic valve replacement) has satisfactory results and increases the quality of life in the long-term follow-up., (Copyright (c) 2010 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The optimal timing of cardiac operations in patients with infective endocarditis continues to be debated. This observational study analyzed the profile and outcome of patients with active infective endocarditis undergoing operations., Methods: Between June 2000 and June 2006, 95 surgically treated patients with definite infective endocarditis by the modified Duke criteria were included., Results: Fifty-eight patients were operated on within the first 7 days after diagnosis of infective endocarditis and 37 at more than 7 days after diagnosis up to immediately after completion of antibiotic treatment. Staphylococci predominated and were significantly associated with embolism, abscess, and septic shock. The most frequent indication for operation was severe regurgitation with heart failure. The 6-month mortality was 15%. Early operation showed a trend towards increased mortality vs late operation. In univariable analysis, factors associated with 6-month mortality included staphylococci and septic shock. Multivariable analysis revealed that septic shock predicted 6-month mortality. Despite early operation in patients experiencing septic shock, 57% died. No patients without heart failure died after undergoing (early or late) procedures for severe regurgitation., Conclusions: The prognosis in surgically treated patients was determined by the occurrence of septic shock. The outcome in patients who underwent late operations was favorable compared with the early group. This difference was probably not due to the timing of the surgical intervention but to the severity of infective endocarditis. In patients with severe regurgitation without heart failure, early operation may offer benefit in length of hospitalization and prevention of development of new heart failure.

Background: Surgery for mitral valve endocarditis in children is relatively uncommon. This study assesses its operative outcome and reoperation and long-term survival rates., Methods: We reviewed the cases of 8 consecutive children who underwent mitral valve repair for infective endocarditis between 1989 and 2005 at our institution. Mean age was 13.8 years (range, 9.4 to 16.9 years). The mitral valve was affected in all 8 patients, and both aortic and mitral valve in 2. Congenital cardiac malformation was the predisposing factor in 3 patients. Three patients had floppy mitral valve owing to leaflet perforation. All 8 patients had severe mitral regurgitation. Indications for operations were cardiac failure in 2, septic embolization in 2, and severe mitral regurgitation in 4. Four surgical interventions were elective, two were urgent, and two were emergencies. The offending microorganism was identified in 7 of the 8 patients. Mitral valve repair or reconstruction was performed in all 8, and 2 patients had additional aortic valve replacement. Follow-up was complete (mean, 9.5 years; range, 0.67 to 16 years; total, 76.7 patient-years)., Results: There were no operative deaths. Actuarial freedom from reoperation and actuarial survival rate at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years were 100%. Early echocardiographic follow-up showed 4 patients to have mild mitral valve regurgitation, 2 had mild to moderate, and 2 had no regurgitation. Long-term follow-up showed no progression of the lesions., Conclusions: Mitral valve repair achieves excellent results and can be performed without morbidity or mortality. Functional improvement and follow-up echocardiography evaluating the degree of mitral valve regurgitation and stenosis are satisfactory.

Background: Surgical treatment of active aortic infective endocarditis is challenging, and the type of prosthesis to be implanted during the active phase remains controversial., Methods: All consecutive patients with definite diagnosis of aortic infective endocarditis operated on during the active phase were included. Endpoints were in-hospital mortality and a combined endpoint including infective endocarditis recurrence, prostheses dysfunction, or long-term cardiovascular mortality., Results: Among 127 consecutive patients, mean age 57 +/- 15 years, 87% male, 30% with preexisting aortic prosthesis, and 63 (50%) with annulus abscess, 54 (43%) were treated with aortic homograft and 73 (57%) with conventional prosthesis. Median time between diagnosis and surgery was 10 days. In-hospital mortality was 9%, not different between homograft and conventional prostheses (11% versus 8%, p[ = 0.6). By multivariable analysis, prosthetic valve endocarditis (8.5 95% confidence interval: 2.2 to 33.6, ]p = 0.001) was the only variable independently associated with in-hospital mortality, which was not influenced by type valvular substitute (p = 0.6), even in the subset with annulus abscess (p = 0.2). Ten-year survival free from the combined endpoint was 44% +/- 10%, not different between homograft and conventional prostheses (log rank p = 0.2). By multivariable analysis, comorbidity index (2.6 [1.05 to 6.3], p = 0.04) and prosthetic valve endocarditis (2.3 [1.2 to 4.6], p = 0.02) were independently predictive of the combined endpoint, which was not determined by type of valvular substitute (p = 0.6) even in the subset with annulus abscess (p = 0.5)., Conclusions: Implantation of conventional prostheses during the active phase of aortic endocarditis yields similar low operative mortality and long-term prognosis as compared with aortic homografts, even in patients with annulus abscess.

Background: Endocarditis represents a small proportion of cardiovascular disease but is associated with high mortality. Previous studies have reported a range of outcomes, and determinants of mortality remain poorly defined., Methods: The goal of this retrospective study was to identify independent variables for early and late mortality in 364 consecutive patients with endocarditis over a 10-year period., Results: The mean age of patients was 48.2 years, 35% had a history intravenous drug use, 19.8% were reoperative, and 93% had native valve endocarditis. Fever (68%) and fatigue (36%) were the most common presenting symptoms, and congestive heart failure (52%), embolization (45%), and uncontrolled sepsis (36%) were the most common indications for surgery. Overall survival at discharge, 1, 5, and 10 years was 87%, 76%, 55%, and 31%, respectively. Survival at discharge, 5, and 10 years was 91%, 69%, and 41% for surgical patients and 85%, 60%, and 31% for medically treated patients, respectively. Surgery was associated with improved short-term and long-term survival (p < 0.0.01). Independent predictors of early death were hemodynamic instability (p = 0.013) and age older than 55 years (p < 0.025). Medical treatment (p = 0.005), age older than 55 years (p = 0.032), institution (p < 0.001), New York Heart Association functional class III or IV (p = 0.002), and hemodynamic instability (p = 0.044) were predictive of late death., Conclusions: Short-term and long-term mortality from endocarditis remains high, although surgically treated patients had improved survival. Differing outcomes from two geographically similar institutions highlight the limitations of extrapolating risk factors between disparate patient populations.

Background: We studied a large cohort of adults with Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis to evaluate the predictors of outcome and to establish whether early surgery is associated with reduced mortality., Methods: The study prospectively enrolled 116 consecutive patients with definite S. aureus infective endocarditis, according to Duke criteria and examined by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography., Results: The in-hospital mortality rate was 26%, and the 36-month survival rate was 57% +/- 5%. Multivariate analyses identified comorbidity index, congestive heart failure, severe sepsis, prosthetic valve infective endocarditis, and major neurologic events as predictors of in-hospital mortality; severe sepsis and comorbidity index as predictors of overall mortality; and the comorbidity index as a predictor of late mortality. In unadjusted analyses, early surgery performed in 47% of patients was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (16% versus 34%; p = 0.034) and with better 36-month survival (77% +/- 6% versus 39% +/- 7%; p < 0.001). After adjustment of baseline variables related to mortality, early surgery remained associated with reduced overall mortality., Conclusions: Prognosis of S. aureus infective endocarditis remains poor, related to the comorbidities, presence of congestive heart failure, severe sepsis, major neurologic events, and prosthetic valve. Early surgery is independently associated with reduced overall mortality and should be considered in selected cases to improve the outcome.

Background: Infective endocarditis is associated with a high rate of long-term mortality. Patients with a history of intravenous drug use (IVDU) are at increased risk for infective endocarditis. However, few studies have reported results of surgical treatment on this population. We present 19.5 years of experience with surgically treated patients with infective endocarditis., Methods: A retrospective study of all cardiac surgeries with a diagnosis of infective endocarditis at a single institution from 1986 to 2005 was performed. Logistic stepwise regression with an end point of operative mortality was done. Variables were age, gender, race, history of drug use, previous valve surgery, and previous valve replacement. Perioperative and outcome variables were compared between IVDU and non-IVDU populations., Results: The IVDU population required surgery at a younger age (39 +/- 9 years versus 54 +/- 15 years; p < 0.001). Overall operative mortality was 12% (41/346). The perioperative complication rate was similar for both groups. When adjusted for age, the two groups had similar long-term survival (p = 0.78). Kaplan-Meier estimator showed that survival at 10 and 15 years was 66% and 54% for IVDU and 56% and 42% for non-IVDU (number at risk, 19, 11, and 61, 28, respectively; p = 0.137). Reoperation for recurrent infective endocarditis was necessary in 9 (17%) of 52 of the IVDU group versus 14 (5%) of 270 of the non-IVDU group (p = 0.03)., Conclusions: Patients with a history of IVDU required reoperation for recurrent infective endocarditis at a significantly higher rate than the non-IVDU patients. Long-term survival was similar between the younger IVDU population and the older non-IVDU population. Anticipated life span is one of many factors when considering prosthetic valve choice in this population.

Background: The Ross procedure has gained increasing interest as an attractive alternative to a prosthetic aortic valve substitute within the last decade. Because of a probably better resistance to infection as one of its advantages, the pulmonary autograft is theoretically preferable for active endocarditis., Methods: Between June 1994 and July 2003, the Ross procedure was performed using the subcoronary and inclusion technique in 296 patients (231 male, 65 female). Twenty patients had an active endocarditis of the aortic valve at the time of operation. A bicuspid valve was present in 10 patients. One patient had previous aortic valve surgery. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up was complete., Results: Early mortality was 1, late mortality was 0. There were no recurrence of endocarditis and no neurologic events during the mean follow-up of 47.3 +/- 28.6 months. All patients were in New York Heart Association class I. Mean and maximum pressure gradient across the autograft was 3.5 +/- 2.0 and 6.5 +/- 3.4, respectively, with no autograft insufficiency in 15, 1+ in 4. Comparing postoperative with the last investigations, there were no significant changes of pressure gradients or grade of regurgitation. Mean and maximum homograft pressure gradients were 7.9 +/- 3.7 and 16.2 +/- 8.1 mm Hg, respectively, at last investigation; most patients had no or mild homograft regurgitation (0+, n = 13; 1+, n = 5; 2+, n = 1)., Conclusions: Native valve endocarditis can be treated with excellent results using the Ross procedure with the subcoronary and inclusion technique, with low mortality and morbidity rates and a very low recurrence rate of endocarditis.

Background: Infective endocarditis is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge that ultimately requires surgical intervention in 20% of all cases. Early determinants of morbidity and mortality in this high risk population are not well described., Methods: The aim of this study was to determine preoperative clinical, microbiological, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic variables that predicted the need for permanent pacemaker implantation and in-hospital death in a surgical cohort of patients with active infective endocarditis., Results: We identified 91 patients (61 males and 30 females, mean age 58 +/- 16 years) who underwent surgical intervention for active culture-positive infective endocarditis as defined by the Duke criteria. Native valve infective endocarditis was present in 78 (85.7%) and prosthetic valve endocarditis in 13 (14.3%) of cases. The aortic valve was infected in 61 (67.0%), the mitral in 35 (38.5%), and multiple valves in 8 patients (8.8%). The most common indication for surgical intervention was intractable heart failure. Twenty-two patients (24.2%) required pacemakers, while there were 14 (15.4%) in-hospital deaths. In age-adjusted and gender-adjusted analyses, the presence of left bundle branch block on preoperative electrocardiogram (ECG) and presence of depressed left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction [EF] < 50%) predicted the need for a permanent pacemaker implantation, while the presence of depressed left ventricular function predicted in-hospital mortality., Conclusions: Preoperative ECG findings of left bundle branch block and reduced left ventricular function may allow for early risk stratification of this high risk population.

Background: The valve substitute of choice in active infective aortic valve endocarditis complicated by annulus abscess in our institution is the cryopreserved homograft. To avoid implantation of any prosthetic material, the Shelhigh No-React stentless valves and conduits may be considered an alternative when no suitable homograft is available., Methods: Between March 1986 and January 2001, 452 homografts were implanted in the aortic position. From January 2000 to August 2001, 75 Shelhigh No-React prostheses were implanted at our institution. In 25 consecutive patients (study group) with aortic annulus abscess, urgent aortic valve replacement with the Shelhigh SuperStentless and Stentless Aortic Valve Conduit was undertaken. Patients (16 male, 9 female; age, 49 +/- 19 years) were studied with follow-up until March 2002. The control group comprised 68 consecutive historical patients (46 male, 22 female; age, 53 +/- 14.4 years) with similar disease treated between January 1997 and December 1999 in whom an aortic homograft was implanted. This group was also followed up until March 2002. Demographic data and preoperative characteristics of the patients were without significant differences. Patients were studied by echocardiography., Results: Sixty-day mortality was 16% (11 patients) in the control group compared with 12% (3 patients) in the study group. Recurrent infection occurred in 4% in both groups. The instantaneous and mean Doppler gradients yielded no significant differences (19.4 +/- 10.4 mm Hg and 11.8 +/- 5.7 mm Hg versus 18.2 +/- 8.7 mm Hg and 10.9 +/- 5.3 mm Hg, respectively). The mean effective orifice area calculated from Doppler flow velocity for the stentless valve was 2.3 +/- 0.6 cm2. Preoperative evaluation of left ventricular dimensions and global left ventricular systolic function did not vary significantly between the two groups. However, postoperatively evaluated left ventricular end-diastolic diameter dimensions in the study group were significantly smaller than those in the control group (47.6 +/- 7.9 mm versus 56 +/- 9.5 mm; p = 0.05). Ejection fraction was similar in both groups (56.2% +/- 12.8% for the study [Shelhigh] and 52.6% +/- 16.8% for the control [homograft] group)., Conclusions: Our experience with both the Shelhigh No-React SuperStentless and Stentless Aortic Valve Conduit in patients with native or prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis appears to demonstrate good results, similar to those of cryopreserved homografts. Ease of implantation and favorable effective orifice area and pressure gradients, as well as the No-React anticalcification treatment, are promising factors.

Background: The use of prosthetic material (rather than a homograft) for ascending aorta/aortic valve replacement (Bentall procedure) in cases of acute prosthetic valve endocarditis is controversial. We report favorable results using this technique almost exclusively (a homograft was used in only 3 patients with hematological problems) during a 12-year interval., Methods: Twenty-eight patients (55 +/- 14 years; 22 male) underwent a Bentall procedure for acute prosthetic valve endocarditis between 1988 and 2000. Twenty-five patients had undergone previous aortic valve replacement (1 with concomitant mitral valve replacement, 4 with coronary artery bypass grafting), and 3 had had a previous Bentall operation. The median interval between initial surgery and reoperation was 13 months (range, 1 to 106). Sixty-eight percent of operations were urgent or emergencies. Ninety-three percent of patients had significant aortic regurgitation; complete annuloaortic dehiscence occurred in 71%, and in 57%, an abscess was found. Causative organisms were identified in 25 of 28 patients: Staphylococcus epidermidis (9), Staphylococcus aureus (7), Streptococcus viridans (6), Pseudomonas (2), and Legionella (1)., Results: Twenty-three patients had mechanical and 5 had biological valves implanted during the Bentall procedure. Hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 64%. Hospital mortality was 11%: there was one intraoperative death, and two before discharge (one cardiac, one sepsis). Eighty-nine percent survived without stroke. During follow-up (median, 44.5 months; complete in 92%), 1 patient died of recurrent endocarditis at 4 months., Conclusions: These results indicate that prosthetic root replacement may be superior to use of a homograft for acute aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis, with only a 4% incidence of recurrent endocarditis and reoperation.

Background: Prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis (PVE) is an important complication of aortic valve replacement (AVR) and is a particularly difficult situation after an operation combining AVR with ascending aortic replacement., Methods: From 1988 through 2000, 27 patients with aortic valve PVE after previous ascending aortic replacement (aortic root replacement in 13, aortic valve replacement with a supracoronary graft in 14) underwent reoperation for aortic root replacement with a cryopreserved aortic allograft and prolonged intravenous antibiotic therapy. All patients were considered to have active PVE (25 with positive cultures); root abscess formation was present in 89% and aortoventricular discontinuity in 41%., Results: One patient (3.7%) died in-hospital, and permanent pacemakers were required in 10 patients (37%). Mean postoperative follow-up interval was 3.9 +/- 3.0 years, and survival at 1, 2, 5, and 7.5 years was 92%, 88%, 70%, and 56%, respectively. One patient underwent reoperation for recurrent PVE 8 months after operation., Conclusions: Radical debridement of infected prosthetic material and tissue, and allograft aortic root and ascending aorta replacement, combined with intravenous antibiotic therapy, appears to achieve a low hospital mortality and a high degree of freedom from recurrent infection for patients with PVE after AVR and ascending aortic replacement.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND Our strategy has been to treat aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) with radical debridement of infected tissue and aortic root replacement with a cryopreserved aortic allograft. This study examines the effectiveness of this strategy on hospital mortality and morbidity, recurrent endocarditis, and survival., Methods: From 1988 through 2000, 103 patients with aortic PVE underwent root replacement with a cryopreserved aortic allograft. Abscesses were present in 78%, and aortoventricular discontinuity was present in 40%. Thirty-two patients had at least one previous operation for endocarditis. In 23 patients with a history of native valve endocarditis, the allograft was implanted after one episode (17 patients), two episodes (5 patients), or three episodes of PVE (1 patient). In the 80 patients without a history of native valve endocarditis, the allograft was placed after one previous aortic valve replacement (57 patients), two (19), or three (4) previous aortic valve replacements. Among the 92 patients with positive cultures, 52 had staphylococcal organisms, 20 had streptococcal, 6 had fungal, 4 had gram-negative, and 6 had enterococcal organisms. Mean follow-up was 4.3 +/- 2.9 years., Results: Hospital mortality was 3.9%. Permanent pacemakers were required in 31 patients. Survival at 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years was 90%, 86%, 73%, and 56%, respectively, with a risk of 5.3% per year after 6 months. Four patients underwent reoperation for recurrent PVE of the allograft (95% freedom from recurrent PVE at > or = 2 years). Risk of recurrent PVE peaked at 9 months and then declined to a low level by 18 months., Conclusions: A strategy of radical debridement and aortic root replacement with a cryopreserved aortic allograft for aortic PVE is safe, effective, and recommended.

Background: The Silzone-coated St. Jude Medical valve (SJM "Silzone" valve), developed to reduce prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE), was recalled by SJM due to a higher rate of paravalvular leaks. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the SJM "Silzone" valve in avoiding PVE and to evaluate the frequency of paravalvular leaks, when the valve was used exclusively for active bacterial endocarditis., Methods: From January 1998 to December 1999, the SJM "Silzone" valve was implanted in 40 consecutive patients with active endocarditis (20 aortic, 14 mitral, and 6 both valves). Late transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 87% of survivors, and transthoracic echocardiography in the remaining 13%. Follow-up was 100%., Results: Hospital mortality was 17.5%. Early PVE occurred in 2 of 40 patients (5%). There were two late deaths without signs of recurrent PVE. A hemodynamic relevant paravalvular leak necessitating reoperation was seen in 2 patients within 6 months after operation. The rate of a minor paravalvular leak was 13% (4 of 31 patients)., Conclusions: The SJM "Silzone" valve when implanted for active bacterial endocarditis does not give better results than other mechanical prostheses with regard to early recurrence of endocarditis. The rate of a hemodynamic relevant paravalvular leak requiring reoperation seems rather high during the early postoperative period, whereas the occurrence of minor paravalvular leaks is comparable with that of other mechanical prostheses. Routine observation, recommended for all patients with mechanical heart valves, is also sufficient for patients with the SJM "Silzone" valve.

Background: Ventricular assist devices (VAD) are currently approved for use as a bridge for transplantation. Although reports have suggested acceptable rates of survival of patients with VAD, there is little information regarding the mechanism and etiology of bacteremia in these patients., Methods: We prospectively followed patients who underwent VAD implantation and developed bacteremia during VAD support at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Relapsing bacteremia was defined as at least two episodes of positive blood cultures with a genetically related organism on 2 different days. Species identification and susceptibility testing were performed on all isolates. Pulse field gel electrophoresis was performed on selected blood and VAD isolates., Results: Between January 1998 and August 1999, 3 patients with VAD developed relapsing bacteremia, which was treated with full courses of antibiotic agents, 2 of whom also developed VAD endocarditis. All 3 patients had documented driveline or device pocket infections with these isolates. Consecutive blood and VAD isolates were found to be genetically related within each patient., Conclusions: These patients with bacteremia after VAD implantation had relapse due to the same strain, which may have originated from indolent driveline infection. Endovascular infection in this setting is difficult to eradicate with antibiotic agents and carries a high mortality. These patients should be considered to have priority for orthotopic heart transplantation.

Background: To evaluate which variables predict recurrence of endocarditis after surgical treatment, we reviewed our 21-year experience., Methods: Between January 1979 and May 2000, 308 consecutive valve replacement procedures for infective endocarditis were performed in 271 patients. Univariate and multivariate time-related analyses were performed to retrospectively evaluate the role of the following variables in the development of recurrent postoperative endocarditis: gender, site of endocarditis, previous valve disease, drug abuse, diabetes, positive valve/blood cultures, sepsis, perivalvular involvement, previous embolic events, type of replacement device, and persistent postoperative fever., Results: Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up was 97.36% complete, mean follow-up time was 53.2+/-3.4 months. Recurrent endocarditis developed in 58 cases (22.5%). Variables predicting recurrence were prosthetic endocarditis (p = 0.00001), positive valve culture (p = 0.0039), and persistence of fever at the seventh postoperative day (p = 0.000001)., Conclusions: Correct protocols of antibiotic therapy guided by microbiology may reduce the incidence of recurrent endocarditis to allow for surgery on sterile tissues and to prevent prosthetic infection. Recurrence rate is not affected by the choice of valve substitute, but can be prevented by complete surgical debridement.

Background: A review of a 10-year experience with the Ross procedure as a root replacement by a single group of surgeons featuring specific highlights is presented. Highlights include our results from a subset of patients with endocarditis and their management and a comparison of outcomes in patients with aortic insufficiency based on technical changes made after 5 years' experience., Methods: The total patient group was 191, with 148 male and 43 female participants with an age range from 1 day to 69 years. Five of the patients in the 0-to-20 age group were newborns. Fifty-three of the adults were operated on for infectious endocarditis. In the total patient group 43% had aortic insufficiency, 28% had aortic stenosis, and 29% had mixed disease., Results: Operative mortality was 5.2% with a late mortality of 2.6%. The actuarial survival was 90.2% at 10 years. Freedom from autograft explantation was 93.2% and freedom from homograft replacement was 98.4%. The endocarditis patients had an operative mortality of 3.8% with 100% cure of the infection. Freedom from reinfection on the autograft was 98.1%, and freedom from infection of the pulmonary homograft was 98.1%. The actuarial survival was 86.3%., Conclusions: A specific review of the patients with aortic insufficiency resulted in a failure of the autograft in 7 patients among a cohort of 41 during the first 5 years of the study. After a change in technique in which the aortic annulus is narrowed and fixed to a measured size to match the body surface area, we have had no failures in the autograft. Although these results are early, we believe that these data support the use of the autograft as an excellent choice for replacement of the aortic valve in infective endocarditis. Finally, the use of the autograft for aortic insufficiency is reasonable with fixation of the aortic annulus so that subsequent dilation does not occur.

Background: It remains unknown whether there is any important clinical advantage to the use of either a bioprosthetic or mechanical valve for patients with native or prosthetic valve endocarditis., Methods: Between 1964 and 1995, 306 patients underwent valve replacement for left-sided native (209 patients) or prosthetic (97 patients) valve endocarditis. Mechanical valves were implanted in 65 patients, bioprostheses in 221 patients, and homografts in 20 patients., Results: Operative mortality was 18+/-2% and was independent of replacement valve type (p > 0.74). Long-term survival was superior for patients with native valve endocarditis (44+/-5% at 20 years) compared with those with prosthetic valve endocarditis (16+/-7% at 20 years) (p < 0.003). Survival was independent of valve type (p > 0.27). The long-term freedom from reoperation for patients who received a biologic valve who were younger than 60 years of age was low (51+/-5% at 10 years, 19+/-6% at 15 years). For patients older than 60 years, however, freedom from reoperation with a biological valve (84+/-7% at 15 years) was similar to that for all patients with mechanical valves (74+/-9% at 15 years) (p > 0.64)., Conclusions: Mechanical valves are most suitable for younger patients with native valve endocarditis; however, tissue valves are acceptable for patients greater than 60 years of age with native or prosthetic valve infections and for selected younger patients with prosthetic valve infections because of their limited life expectancy.

Background: The objective of the present study was to compare current results of prosthetic valve replacement following acute infective native valve endocarditis (NVE) with that of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). Prosthetic valve replacement is often necessary for acute infective endocarditis. Although valve repair and homografts have been associated with excellent outcome, homograft availability and the importance of valvular destruction often dictate prosthetic valve replacement in patients with acute bacterial endocarditis., Methods: A retrospective analysis of the experience with prosthetic valve replacement following acute NVE and PVE between 1988 and 1998 was performed at the Montreal Heart Institute., Results: Seventy-seven patients (57 men and 20 women, mean age 48 +/- 16 years) with acute infective endocarditis underwent valve replacement. Fifty patients had NVE and 27 had PVE. Four patients (8%) with NVE died within 30 days of operation and there were no hospital deaths in patients with PVE. Survival at 1, 5, and 7 years averaged 80% +/- 6%, 76% +/- 6%, and 76% +/- 6% for NVE and 70% +/- 9%, 59% +/- 10%, and 55% +/- 10% for PVE, respectively (p = 0.15). Reoperation-free survival at 1, 5, and 7 years averaged 80% +/- 6%, 76% +/- 6%, and 76% +/- 6% for NVE and 45% +/- 10%, 40% +/- 10%, and 36% +/- 9% for PVE (p = 0.003). Five-year survival for NVE averaged 75% +/- 9% following aortic valve replacement and 79% +/- 9% following mitral valve replacement. Five-year survival for PVE averaged 66% +/- 12% following aortic valve replacement and 43% +/- 19% following mitral valve replacement (p = 0.75). Nine patients underwent reoperation during follow-up: indications were prosthesis infection in 4 patients (3 mitral, 1 aortic), dehiscence of mitral prosthesis in 3, and dehiscence of aortic prosthesis in 2., Conclusions: Prosthetic valve replacement for NVE resulted in good long-term patient survival with a minimal risk of reoperation compared with patients who underwent valve replacement for PVE. In patients with PVE, those who needed reoperation had recurrent endocarditis or noninfectious periprosthetic dehiscence.

Background: The purpose of this study was to describe a single unit experience in the surgical treatment of active culture-positive endocarditis and identify determinants of early and late outcome., Patients and Methods: One hundred eighteen consecutive patients with positive blood culture up to 3 weeks before operation (or positive valve culture) and macroscopic evidence of lesions typical for endocarditis, undergoing operation between January 1973 and December 1996 in Southampton, were evaluated. The aortic valve was infected in 53 (48.9%), the mitral in 46 (39%), both aortic and mitral in 12 (10.1%), the tricuspid in 4 (3.9%), and the pulmonary valve in 3 (2.5%). Native valve endocarditis was present in 83 (70.3%) and prosthetic valve endocarditis in 35 (29.7%). Streptococci and staphylococci were the most common pathogens. Mean follow-up was 5.6 years (range, 0 to 25 years)., Results: Operative mortality was 7.6% (9 patients). Endocarditis recurred in 8 (6.7%). A reoperation was required in 12 (10.2%). There was 24 late deaths, 17 of them cardiac. Actuarial freedom from recurrent endocarditis, reoperation, late cardiac death, and long-term survival at 10 years were 85.9%, 87.2%, 85.2%, and 73.1%, respectively. On multiple regression analysis the following were independent adverse predictors: pulmonary edema (p = 0.007) and impaired left ventricular function (p = 0.02) for operative mortality; prosthetic valve endocarditis (p = 0.01) for recurrent infection; myocardial invasion by the infection (p = 0.01) and reoperation (p = 0.04) for late cardiac death; and coagulase-negative staphylococcus (p = 0.02), annular abscess (p = 0.02), and longer intensive care unit stay (p = 0.02) for long-term survival., Conclusions: Operation for active culture-positive endocarditis carries an acceptable mortality. Freedom from recurrent infection, reoperation, and long-term survival are satisfactory. In our data, patients' hemodynamic status at operation was the major determinant of operative mortality. Prosthetic valve endocarditis, coagulase-negative staphylococcus, and annular or myocardial infectious invasion were the critical adverse determinants of late outcome.

Background: This analysis was performed to evaluate the results of reoperations on the ascending aorta and aortic root., Methods: All reoperations (n = 134) on the aortic root and ascending aorta performed between February 1981 and April 1998 were retrospectively analyzed. Indications for reintervention were a true or false aneurysm (35%), acute dissection (3.0%), aortic valve stenosis and/or insufficiency (23.1%), prosthetic valve endocarditis (32.8%), and combinations (4.5%). The principal reoperations performed were aortic root replacement (composite graft, freestyle, aortic allograft, or pulmonary autograft) in 116 patients, ascending aortic replacement in 10 patients, and closure of a false aneurysm in 5 patients. Results were analyzed using univariate statistical methods., Results: Hospital mortality was 6.6% (8 patients). Univariate predictors of hospital death were preoperative functional class III or IV (p = 0.02), an interval of less than 6 months between the primary and actual operation (p = 0.02), preoperative creatinine level of more than 200 micromol/L (p = 0.001), acute aortic dissection (p = 0.001), intraoperative technical problems (p = 0.001), and postoperative dialysis (p = 0.001). Freedom from repetitive reoperation was 99% at 1 year and 98% at 5 and 10 years., Conclusions: Reoperations on the aortic root and ascending aorta can be performed with an early mortality which is very acceptable.

Background: As many as 40% of patients with left-sided bacterial endocarditis will sustain a neurologic insult. The importance of a neurologic change as an indication or a contraindication for valve replacement remains controversial., Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the records of 33 patients admitted to the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center between January 1, 1978, and June 30, 1996, with a diagnosis of endocarditis and a neurologic change., Results: All 33 patients had echocardiographic or pathologic evidence of left-sided endocarditis; 23 were seen with focal neurologic findings and had a mortality rate of 22% (5 of 23), and 10 patients were seen with nonfocal, diffuse encephalopathy and had a mortality rate of 60% (6 of 10) (p<0.05). Of the 33 patients, 14 underwent operation and 19 were treated medically. The mortality rate was 21.4% (3 of 14) in the surgical group and 42.1% (8 of 19) in the medical group (p = not significant). In 71% (10 of 14) of the surgical patients, the operation was done within 1 week of the neurologic event. Additional neurologic deterioration occurred in 18.2% (2 of 11) of survivors in the surgical group and 9.1% (1 of 11) in the medical group (p = not significant)., Conclusions: Choosing therapy for a patient with endocarditis and a neurologic change remains a difficult challenge. Initial findings of nonfocal, global dysfunction on examination are a predictor of a poor outcome. By comparing surgical and medical groups derived from the same series of patients, it is clear that patients with bacterial endocarditis and central nervous system changes face substantial mortality regardless of intervention. However, these data demonstrate that when compared with a similar group of medical patients, surgical patients who require and receive operation early in the course of their illness do comparatively well. Improving outcomes by delaying surgical intervention may serve to "select out" hardier patients but will lead to the death of patients who might benefit from such intervention.

Background: Operation for acute endocarditis during the active phase violates a basic surgical rule not to implant a foreign body into an infective process, resulting in a high operative mortality and the risk of early recurrent endocarditis. Several investigators analyzing risk factors for perioperative mortality and morbidity presented strategies for more favorable outcomes, but most studies suffer from the drawback of heterogeneous populations observed over a long period of time., Methods: We present a prospective study on 138 patients operated on from March 1988 to March 1996. Patients were only included if the activity of the infection was proved by positive culture of the valve leaflets or by histologic staining. During the observation period, indication for operation, surgical approach, and postoperative antibiotic therapy were standardized as much as possible. After radical debridement of all parts of infected tissue, valve replacement was carried out with mechanical prostheses., Results: The early mortality was 11.5% overall. High New York Heart Association functional classification, advanced age, and staphylococcal disease were significant risk factors for early mortality. The site of infection, multiple valve involvement, and prosthetic valve endocarditis did not affect the outcome. Early recurrent endocarditis was recorded in only 3 patients of the entire series., Conclusions: In case of acute infective endocarditis, valve replacement with mechanical prostheses is a safe procedure, if radical operation and aggressive postoperative antibiotic therapy are performed. For further improvements of the results, earlier operation is advisable in patients with rapidly progressive cardiac deterioration and in most cases of staphylococcal endocarditis.

Background: Operation for infective endocarditis with paravalvular abscess is reportedly associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. In an attempt to improve surgical outcome, an approach of radical resection of the abscess and inflamed tissues and reconstruction of the heart with either fresh or glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine pericardium was adopted by two surgeons at our institution., Methods: From 1979 to 1995, 70 consecutive patients with active infective endocarditis and paravalvular abscess underwent operation. Their mean age was 49 years (range, 16 to 75 years), and 50 patients (71%) were men. Thirty-four patients had native and 36 had prosthetic valve endocarditis (8 had had composite replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta). Most patients (78%) were in New York Heart Association functional class IV. The principal indication for operation was cardiogenic or septic shock in 11 patients, or one or more of the following: persistent sepsis despite adequate antibiotic therapy in 36, congestive heart failure in 31, and recurrent emboli in 16. Staphylococci were responsible for the infection in 37 patients (53%). The abscess was in the mitral annulus in 11 patients, in the aortic root in 44, and in the aortic root and at least one other annulus in 15. After wide resection of the abscess, we reconstructed the heart and annuli with autologous or bovine pericardium. Mechanical heart valves were implanted in 36 patients, bioprostheses in 30, and aortic homografts in 2; valve repair was possible in 2. Sixteen patients required composite replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve., Results: There were 9 operative deaths (13%). Infections caused by staphylococci and infections in multiple annuli were associated with increased operative mortality rates. Only 1 patient had persistent infection and required reoperation. The mean follow-up was 56 +/- 40 months. There were 12 late deaths, mostly cardiac. The actuarial survival including operative deaths was 64% +/- 8% at 8 years. In 8 patients, recurrent infective endocarditis developed 10 to 102 months after operation. The freedom from recurrent endocarditis was 76% +/- 10% at 8 years., Conclusions: This experience indicates that radical resection of the abscess and reconstruction of the heart with pericardium yield an excellent chance of eradicating the infection in patients with infective endocarditis and paravalvular abscess. The type of valve implanted may not be as important as radical resection of the abscess. These patients appear to have a greater than average risk of recurrent endocarditis.

Background: Acute neurologic deficits occur in up to 40% of patients with left heart endocarditis. Appropriate evaluation and management of patients with acute neurologic dysfunction who require valve operations for endocarditis remain controversial. This retrospective review was undertaken to develop recommendations for the evaluation and treatment of these challenging patients., Methods: From 1983 to 1995, 247 patients underwent operations for left heart native valve endocarditis at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. From a review of medical and pathology records, 34 patients (14%) with preoperative neurologic deficits were identified. Data on these 34 patients were recorded and analyzed., Results: Causes of neurologic dysfunction included embolic cerebrovascular accident (n = 23, 68%), embolic cerebrovascular accident with hemorrhage (n = 4, 12%), ruptured mycotic aneurysm (n = 3, 9%), transient ischemic attack (n = 2, 6%), and meningitis (n = 2, 6%). Preoperative diagnostic studies included computed tomography (32 patients), magnetic resonance imaging (11 patients), cerebral angiogram (14 patients), and lumbar puncture (2 patients). Computed tomography demonstrated structural lesions in 29 of 32 patients; in only 1 patient did magnetic resonance imaging reveal a lesion not already seen on computed tomography. Of 14 patients having cerebral angiograms, 7 had a mycotic aneurysm. Three mycotic aneurysms had ruptured, and these were clipped before cardiac operations. The mean interval from onset of neurologic deficit to cardiac operation was 22.2 +/- 2.8 days for all patients and 22.1 +/- 3.0 days for those with embolic cerebrovascular accident. The hospital mortality rate was 6%. New or worse neurologic deficits occurred in 2 patients (6%)., Conclusions: Neurologic deficits are common in patients with endocarditis referred for cardiac operations. Despite substantial preoperative morbidity, most of these patients do well if the operation can be delayed for 2 to 3 weeks. Computed tomography scan is the preoperative imaging technique of choice, as routine magnetic resonance imaging and cerebral angiogram are unrewarding. Cerebral angiogram is indicated only if computed tomography reveals hemorrhage.

Background: Infective endocarditis is a complex disease process. Optimal outcome often requires both medical and surgical expertise. The need for and timing of surgical intervention is controversial and continues to evolve in parallel to advancements in diagnosis and treatment. Our experience with the treatment of infective endocarditis is reviewed herein., Methods: A retrospective review was compiled of 140 consecutive patients who fulfilled the modified von Reyn criteria for the diagnosis of endocarditis between January 1982 and April 1992., Results: Patient characteristics, symptoms, and risk factors are described. Follow-up averaged 3.5 +/- 0.8 years and totaled 491 patient-years. New York Heart Association functional class at presentation had a significant influence on survival (p < 0.0001). Long-term survival was significantly greater (p = 0.036) in patients treated medically/surgically than those treated with medical therapy alone (75% versus 54% at 5 years). Medical treatment of aortic and prosthetic endocarditis was associated with higher mortality (58% and 67%, respectively) when compared with combined medical/surgical treatment (28% and 38%, respectively). Among the survivors, New York Heart Association class at follow-up was better (p < 0.0001) in the medical/surgical group (1.05 +/- 0.04) versus the medical treatment group (1.70 +/- 0.14)., Conclusions: Combined medical/surgical treatment for infective endocarditis is associated with improved survival. Patients with aortic or prosthetic endocarditis are identified as subgroups that benefit most from surgical intervention. Valvular dysfunction incited by the infective process is an important factor that should be weighed carefully in the therapeutic decision.

Background: Infective endocarditis is an uncommon but serious disease in children. Optimal treatment strategy, especially surgical indications, continues to evolve., Methods: Retrospective review of 98 patients treated for infective endocarditis during the past 13 years at the Royal Children's Hospital, including medically and surgically treated patients., Results: Thirty of 98 patients had surgical intervention with 6.7% hospital mortality, and 76% survival probability at 45 months. The remaining patients were treated medically, with 10% hospital mortality and 52% 5-year survival probability. The incidence of structural heart disease, congestive heart failure, and spectrum of organisms was similar in the two groups., Conclusions: Despite advances in antibiotic therapy, early surgical intervention is required in a significant subset. Concurrent intracardiac repair may be appropriate.

The objective of our study was to assess the long-term outcome of patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis. We used a multicenter, prospective, observational study design. Six university teaching hospitals with high volume cardiothoracic surgery participated. Seventy-four patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis as defined by explicit, objective criteria were selected for participation. All patients were followed up prospectively for 1 year. Thirty-one percent and 69% had development of endocarditis within 60 days of valve insertion ("early") and after 60 days ("late"), respectively. The most common causes were Staphylococcus epidermidis (40%), Staphylococcus aureus (20%), streptococcal species (18%), and aerobic gram-negative bacilli (11%). Physical signs of endocarditis (new or changing murmur, stigmata, emboli) were seen in 58%. At 6 months and 12 months, mortality was 46% and 47%, respectively. Surgical replacement of the infected valve led to significantly lower mortality (23%) as compared with medical therapy alone (56%), as assessed by both univariate and multivariate analyses (p < 0.05). Improved outcome was seen for the surgical group even when controlling for severity of illness at time of diagnosis. From these findings we conclude that accurate assessment of outcome in prosthetic valve endocarditis requires long-term follow-up of at least 6 months following diagnosis. Surgical therapy warrants greater scrutiny; evaluation in controlled clinical trials is appropriate.